USS Morton

New Zealand is currently a thriving gambling market. Millions of residents participate in some form of gambling activity every day, and the recreational player population has grown rapidly over the past few years. While the land-based gaming market is experiencing tremendous growth, so is the online casino market. However, the laws governing online gambling in New Zealand can be quite complex, so here is a brief overview of the legality of online gambling in the country.

New Zealand’s online gambling laws are regulated by the Gambling Act 2003, along with all other forms of gambling in the country. Until 2003, online gambling was not regulated by any law, so the legislation is still quite new and residents believe that there are still some problems to solve.

By law, interactive remote gambling is prohibited. This applies only to games of chance that are organized or carried out within New Zealand. Offshore operators can face fines for offering their services to residents of the country, but few have been prosecuted by local authorities. Some local online gambling operators may offer their services online, including TabCorp, a gambling operator that has a near-monopoly on gambling in Australia and New Zealand.

Advertising of offshore online casinos is also prohibited. Therefore, gambling companies that are not based in New Zealand cannot advertise their services to residents. This includes sports sponsorships and television commercials, as well as print and online advertisements.

Recognizing that New Zealanders are interested in participating in online gambling, the government has decided to allow some forms of online gambling to take place. It was recently decided that players could play the local lottery online. NZ Lotto has launched its own online gambling website, so that players can buy all kinds of lottery products online. The website also offers online bingo and keno, adding to the range of options players have when it comes to playing legally online. The NZ Lotto website is a huge step forward for the country’s online gambling market; however, residents would like to have more options when it comes to playing online casino games.

However, there are some exceptions to the rules. The New Zealand government has stated that UFABET some cases of online gambling are subject to dispute. As such, the local gaming commission would have to evaluate these situations on a case-by-case basis to ensure that players and operators across the country are treated fairly and safely in the world of online gambling.